New Haven Independent

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 1, 2007 8:24 AM

I got my pace car sticker last night. :)
What I can't get is how people do not understand that most city lights are timed....so if you do the speed limit you don't hit many red lights. I watch people go speeding by me, only to reach the same destination at the same time. Even if you save 5 min. by speeding is it really worth the risk?? The risk of hit someone or being hit?? It is just common sense.
Bravo when heard about this I thought it was a great idea!

Posted by: JackNH | November 1, 2007 8:28 AM

Oh please. A little sticker on my "pace car"? Is going to stop the AYLs (Angry Young Latinos) in Fair Haven from going 70 miles an hour past me in the wrong lane? Think again. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS COPS ARRESTING PEOPLE!!! Which will never happen, for reasons well know to regular readers of the NEW HAVEN INDEPENDENT.

Posted by: on whalley | November 1, 2007 8:46 AM

Great. Now we'll have these big day-glo stickers announcing to every "tough-guy" in the neighborhood that you're the guy who's driving too slow and keeping them from racing to that red light.

Let's watch this over the next year and see if incidents of road rage and vandalism increase towards those with big yellow stickers in their cars.

Also, wouldn't the willing participants of this program tend to be more calm and reasonable residents? Most, if not all, of these particularly horrendous anarchistic driving incidents happen between 11PM and 4 AM. How many of our decent 9-5 hardworking law-abiding residents are out and about at these hours? Unless a few drug dealers or bar-hopping drunks get on board I don't expect we'll be seeing any "Pace Cars" actually on the road when idiots are drag racing up and down the Boulevard.

Not that I don't respect the effort though. "A" for effort. :)

Posted by: Gary Doyens | November 1, 2007 10:10 AM

I have not been a big fan of the traffic calming measures that have been employed by the city so far -- $500,000 for median changes and the like. This is a practical educational effort and if combined with more aggressive traffic enforcement, could well be the best idea yet. This is a case study of what good can happen when leaders put some energy and time into finding a solution that is both practical and efficient. I hope it's successful. At very least, it will be a yellow reminder of the importance of traffic rules. Thanks, Erin. I hope you come up with more of these creative solutions for a lot of our other challenges.

Posted by: DAFeder | November 1, 2007 10:44 AM

JackNH --

That's "Pace Car" with a "P" not an "R".

David

Posted by: Bruce | November 1, 2007 10:48 AM

I think this is a simple and inexpensive way to make an impact without gouging the taxpayers. Maybe it won't stop the drag races, but I think most speeders are generally good people like me and you who just don't make the connection between speeding and killing people. I really look forward to seeing what the impact of this might be. It's not like we're wasting millions of dollars on this program, so why not give it a go?

Here is a link to a website that promotes this and similar ideas. Many (like the pace car) need no government involvement whatsoever. http://www.lesstraffic.com/Programs/Index.htm

Posted by: Daniel Sumrall | November 1, 2007 12:11 PM

I applaud Alder Sturgis-Pascale, and I am ordering my sticker after this post.

This is a great example of a small, targeted plan that can achieve results. Most of the negative criticism here comes from the point of view that believes there is one 'big solution' for every municipal concern.

Traffic calming, like most of our city's issues, requires the creation or fostering of an attentive climate. People will notice this and ease up. And while it's certainly not a cure all, it will help create necessary foundation for serious and significant improvement. Once again, excellent job Erin!!

Posted by: nfjanette | November 1, 2007 1:58 PM

This is a bad idea. I've called for increased (from what seems like zero) traffic enforcement from the police department both for the sake of road safety and for the more general impact upon public perception of a lawful society. Yet, putting citizens in their vehicles on the front line of traffic enforcement, as was pointed out in previous comments, may lead to numerous cases of "road rage".

Why? Because the traffic speed limits do not reflect a realistic, up to date evaluation of the factors involved. Therefore, they are almost universally ignored. Simply put, the old 25 MPH standard could easily be raised to 30, and in some places, 35 MPH and still be within reasonable safety margins because of the advances in vehicle suspensions, braking, and tires over the past 20-30 years.

Another problem is the pathetic state of traffic "engineering" on city and state roads. Like the 25 MPH speed limit, much of the work is outdated. The "timing" of many lights is poor, with special note of short yellow light cycles that lead to even safe drivers "blowing through" a newly-turned red light. There are far too many poorly marked lanes that sometimes don't align with the other side of an intersection, leading to wild driving as people jockey for position in a short space. Far too many intersections have enough volume to justify the improved safety a left turn lane with the special traffic light sequence to allow safe turns - but lack them.

More appropriate speed limits, combined with more rigorous enforcement of those reasonable limits, and much improved traffic engineering is the path to improving traffic safety for vehicles, bikers, and pedestrians.

Posted by: charlie | November 1, 2007 2:22 PM

"Simply put, the old 25 MPH standard could easily be raised to 30, and in some places, 35 MPH and still be within reasonable safety margins because of the advances in vehicle suspensions, braking, and tires over the past 20-30 years."

ABSOLUTELY FALSE. If you are a pedestrian and get hit at 30MPH, you are about 10 times more likely to die than if you get hit at 20MPH. In fact, streets should be narrowed and speed limits dropped to 20 or even 15MPH.

Posted by: Sick of it | November 1, 2007 4:47 PM

I read these comments most of the time and there are some of you who I would be hard pressed to find ANYTHING positive out of. You complain about EVERYTHING. Here you scream for more enforcement but as soon as you get a $50 ticket for the one time that you roll through a stop sign, try to beat the red light or go a few miles over the limit you'll be screaming about police injustice and saying they should leave traffic alone and start solving real crimes.

I also wonder if the extent of your protest is on this site. What have YOU done to fix some of these problems (and there are many) in this city?

You have the right to be angry at some of the stupid stuff that happens in our government, businesses and communities but stop your bellyaching, get off your duff and DO something!!! Or shut the hell up because you are not helping the situations.

If things in this city are so bad then get the HECK out!!! If you don't like the politicians then get somebody to run that you like and help them get elected. Or better yet, run yourself. But you better have something to offer other than being against everything that the incumbent does.

If you don't like the plan being executed then come up with a better one and make it happen. Otherwise... well, you get my point.

Posted by: DAFeder | November 1, 2007 6:37 PM

OK, so what's the current feeling about traffic cameras -- invasion of privacy, or effective way to bust Angry Young Drivers? And for that matter, catch the sometimes lethal hit-and-runners?

Bonus question -- would you have felt differently before the feds decided to abuse every discretionary ability to spy on Americans? Is this a traffic solution sabotaged by George Bush's smirking Big Brother "trust me" look?

David

Posted by: Bill Saunders | November 1, 2007 6:59 PM

If an 'official' Pace car breaks a traffic law, and receives a citation, will he be required to surrender his yellow sticker???

My guess is the 'safety-first Clydes' already obey all the traffic rules. Maybe these stickers will serve best as a hypocrite detector.

Posted by: dylan | November 1, 2007 7:28 PM

Bravo, Charlie.

Here's to 8 foot lanes, two way streets, and on street parking.

Posted by: nfjanette | November 1, 2007 7:38 PM

Charlie, what's the basis for your claim? Also, even if the assertion of injury is correct, upon what do you base you case for 20 or 15 MPH speed limits, given than the roads are primarily utilized for vehicular traffic? Couldn't we argue that 0 MPH would pose the lease threat to pedestrians? I don't believe you'll find much public support for such a position.

Posted by: FAIRHAVEN DAVE | November 1, 2007 8:11 PM

This problem has nothing to do with any ethnic group, age group, lack of direct involvement, speed limit range, traffic engineering, or light timing education.

It has to do with inconsiderate people KNOWING they can get away with driving like douche-bags. Nothing outside of strict enforcement will stop the aggressive driving in this town. Hand out all the stickers you want.

FUN FACT: You can drive the speed limit without the sticker! It has no direct influence whatsoever on the drive train of your vehicle.

Posted by: fairhavener | November 1, 2007 9:26 PM

"You complain about EVERYTHING."

sick of it - what are you doing?. Not everyone was complaining. Quote what and who you disagree with and make your point. Otherwise, stop complaining. Seriously.

"Couldn't we argue that 0 MPH would pose the lease threat to pedestrians?"

Come on nfjanette, don't go crazy here. You make a lot of good points, it's ok to be wrong once in awhile. Think about it, would you rather be hit by a car going 20 mph or 30 mph. I have been hit by a car going 20 mph and I can tell you it f'n hurt real bad and I landed on the windshield. I honestly believe (and I am sure somewhere out there there are studies to back it up) that the 10 extra mph make a big difference.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 2, 2007 9:58 AM

Ok first day with my sticker. Got a few honks and thumbs ups. I think it is a matter of reminding people what the speed limit really is on on given street. If the sticker makes one person drive within the limit and that in turn makes another one. It is well worth it. I do how ever think that there needs to be more people out there with them for it to make an impact.
SO GET YOUR STICKS we need to see if it works. People have a tendency to drive with the flow of traffic if we can slow it down just a little with this I think that is a win.

Posted by: Westrockcairns | November 2, 2007 10:43 AM

I suggested at our local Block Watch meeting to the officer who attended that education regarding safe driving should start in our public schools. He scoffed at me. Undaunted, I submit to you that when my children were in school they had traffic safety programs and they came home talking about wearing seat belts. We were already a seatbelt-wearing family, but those little kids nagged us as soon as we got in the car. All their friends nagged their parents. Consequently, I believe wearing seatbelts came naturally to them as adults. Why can't we get our children involved in this? Scoffing police have little faith in us, but I think "out of the mouths of babes" works. What do you think?

Posted by: charlie | November 2, 2007 1:13 PM

I completely agree, WestRockCairns.

Posted by: East Rockette | November 2, 2007 3:13 PM

NFJanette, you asked for evidence. Here are a few links to get you started. It's not rocket science.
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1127572
http://www.geocities.com/galwaycyclist/info/20mph.html
http://www.stoppingdistances.org.uk/

Regardless of "advances in vehicle suspensions, braking, and tires over the past 20-30 years," there are unalterable facts like human reaction speeds (which affect how well you judge the intentions of other drivers and pedestrians, and how fast you hit that improved brake pedal), say, or the weight of a car vs a kid.

We're talking about urban streets, not highways; these are places where people should take priority. It should be possible to cross the street to talk to your neighbours without taking your life in your hands. A blanket 20 mph limit on city streets would be an excellent experiment for this city to undertake. What's the hurry, anyway? Driving in New Haven is about getting nowhere fast!

I live on a very short street, a couple of hundred feet long. Cars and trucks regularly zoom through, accelerating past my house (and the school across the road) at 30 mph or more. Speeding gains them, what, half a second, if that -- they have to stop at the stop sign at the end of the street, anyway. In exchange for their sense of speed, the people,kids, and pets on our street forfeit a sense of safety.

Erin, where can we sign up for speed bumps like those being used in Fair Haven? And what other options do we have for slowing traffic on our street?

Posted by: Esbe | November 2, 2007 6:44 PM

Some think that Pace Cars will be welcomed and some think they will enrage other drivers. Our own Cedarhill Resident volunteered to run the experiment and reports to us above that her "Pace Car" is welcomed. So there.

Right now, there is hardly a reason to argue whether the speed limit should be 20 or 30mph. Nice, "law-abiding" suburban drivers race down Whitney at 55mph, running red lights and narrowly avoiding bikers and pedestrians. Let's start by getting the cops to stop that kind of behavior (all over town.)

Posted by: DingDong | November 4, 2007 10:24 PM

East Rockette,

Check out http://www.trafficcalming.org/measures2.html

for various measures to slow traffic, their prices and discussions of their effectiveness.

Posted by: greg | November 10, 2007 8:17 AM

I now have the sticker on my car. I have been driving 25 mph on most roads and have had some people follow on my tail, which makes me anxious considering I have been hit from behind before. Some folks still pass me, some slow down. It is almost impossible to drive 25 on Whitney ave, or even Quinnipiac Ave, it feels too slow for that kind of long stretch. So I bump it up to 30-35. I am still going much slower than the many who go 50-55mph. I see a lot of bikers and walkers almost get hit everyday, and that makes me angry!
The most important thing everyone can do is share the road. Everyone needs to yield, and slow down!.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | November 12, 2007 6:47 PM

greg
I agree the one thing the stickers has done for me is make me aware of how I am driving. 25 is to slow in some areas. I am still the slowest on the road and that is 5 miles over the speed limit. I had one young girl in a red jetta, yale worker, honking her horn at me rudely because I was not blowing the yellow light. I am noticing a slow down near me while driving, most of all it has made me aware of the fact that I thought I was drive good and wow I was not even close, it was just that every one else was driving way worse. I am glad I have the sticker. More people need them.

Posted by: Ned | November 12, 2007 7:11 PM

I would like to see the sticker printed in a softer shade of yellow, and the phrase, "Pace Car," replaced with the word "Valium".